NOTE BRAZILIAN JOURNAL OF OCEANOGRAPHY, 59(4):391-396, 2011

REPORT OF AN OUTBREAK OF STINGS CAUSED BY Olindias sambaquiensis MULLER, 1861 (: ) IN SOUTHERN BRAZIL

Charrid Resgalla Junior*, André L. Rosseto and Vidal Haddad Jr.

Universidade do Vale do Itajaí - UNIVALI CTTMar-UNIVALI (Caixa Postal 360, 88302-202 Itajaí, SC, Brasil)

*Corresponding author: [email protected]

Descriptors: Jellyfish, Oceanographyc conditions, Winds, Water temperature, Stings identification. Descritores: Gelationosos, Condições oceanográficas, Ventos, Temperatura da água, Identificação de queimaduras.

INTRODUCTION Morro dos Conventos in Araranguá, Gaivota in Balneário Gaivota and Bella Torres in Passo de Accidents caused by cnidaria are common in Torres. The data for this study were obtained from the Brazil, a country with an extensive coastline that is the Içara Fire Department in the State of Santa Catarina, site of intense leisure activity (HADDAD JR., 2000). on the south coast of Brazil, and the images of bathers’ Although there have been few papers published on this lesions and of organisms stranded on the beach were problem, some patterns have been observed for this obtained from the local media type of sting, and the majority of cases reported in the (www.engeplus.com.br), during the period January Southeast and South regions of Brazil have been and February 2010. caused by Hydromedusae Olindias sambaquiensis , The correlation between cutaneous lesions giving rise to injuries of moderate severity in the and the identification of the cnidarians responsible for victims (HADDAD JR., 2000; HADDAD JR. et al., the cases of poisoning was carried out by analysis of 2002, 2010). Other accidents observed have been the images obtained, and compared with the standards associated, in smaller number, with the Portuguese presented by HADDAD JR. et al. (2010). Additional Man o’ War ( Physalia physalis ), two box jellyfish information on the first aid offered to the victims was (Tamoya haplonema and Chiropsalmus quadrumanus ) supplied by the Içara Fire Department, and from the (HADDAD JR., 2000; HADDAD JR. et al., 2010) results obtained after treatment. with systemic damage, and Scyphomedusae Linuche In an attempt to explain the occurrence of unguiculata with the condition known as seabather´s the outbreak during the period in question, eruption (HADDAD JR., et al. 2001). oceanographic data on the temperature of the coastal Recently, careful observation of the skin water were obtained from the Physical Oceanography marks left after contact with cnidarians has been DAAC website (http://poet.jpl.nasa.gov), the Modis valued as a key element in the identification of the sensor and Aquac satellite being selected. The , which may make recognition of the agents meteorological data were obtained from the website of associated with seasonal outbreaks possible the National Meteorology Institute (INMET - (HADDAD JR. et al., 2010), thus helping to determine www.inmet.gov.br) at the Santa Marta Grande the first aid measures to be taken both for simple Lighthouse station (SC). cases, such as using treatment with cold seawater and Satellite data on temperature were analyzed, vinegar baths, and for more systemic problems, such taking the average for the last seven years (2003 to as the hospitalization of the victims (HADDAD JR., 2009) and compared with data for 2010, referring to 2000; HADDAD JR. et al., 2002, 2010). January and February. The same treatment was applied This communication reports an outbreak of to the air temperature data for 2009 and 2010, obtained activity involving Olindias sambaquiensis , with a from the Santa Marta meteorological station. For photographic record of the specimens found on the average wind speed and direction, hourly vectors beaches, linking them to the skin marks found on were broken down into Cartesian coordinates for bathers. It discusses the clinical aspects, and estimating prevailing winds, with daily and monthly comments on possible contributory factors to the data. genesis of this outbreak. The outbreak took place at According to the Içara Fire Department five beach resorts in the far south of the State of Santa (SC), from 1st January to 20th February 2010, 3,368 Catarina, namely Rincão in the municipality of Içara, cases of jellyfish stings were reported among bathers Arroio do Silva in the municipality of Arroio do Silva, at the five beach resorts in the far south of Santa 392 BRAZILIAN JOURNAL OF OCEANOGRAPHY, 59(4), 2011

Catarina (Fig. 1). In the Balneário de Rincão resort Data obtained from the Physical alone, in just one weekend (29 to 31 January 2010), Oceanography DAAC website show that for the year 237 cases were reported, accounting for 29% of the 2010, in the coastal region around Balneário Rincão, total number recorded for the season. the water temperature was 2.22°C higher than the The pattern of skin marks on the victims, as average for the last seven years for the months of seen in the images taken during the outbreak, and also January and February (Fig. 4). Similarly, a 2°C those recorded by the Fire Department, accorded with difference was observed in air temperature between the profile reported for accidents involving Olindias the summers of 2009 and 2010 (Table 1). However, sambaquiensis: short, round marks (Fig. 2), sometimes this region is characterized by low temperature waters with short welt lines. None of the more than 3,300 from upwelling processes that occur in the region of victims recorded presented long, linear crossed marks the Cape Santa Marta Grande (HILLE et al., 2008), or systemic phenomena, such as the breathing or located to the north of the resorts (Fig. 1). These cardiac problems which are typical of accidents processes involve the ascent of cold, deep water to the involving Physalia or Cubozoans. The pain was coastal region, and are caused by the coastal intense, but not lasting, and the symptoms were morphology and action of the northerly wind, relieved with the application of acetic acid (household particularly the northeast winds, which are more vinegar). Over the entire Summer period, the Fire intense during summer. For the January and February Department used 142 liters of vinegar to attend the periods of 2009 and 2010, no marked differences victims, obtaining good results, particularly in view of between wind intensity and direction were observed, the fact that about two-thirds of the victims were therefore this cannot provide an explanation for a year children (under 12 years of age). Besides the skin without outbreaks of jellyfish stings (2009) followed pattern of the lesions, the photographic records show by a year with outbreaks (2010). At Balneário Rincão, various specimens of hydromedusa Olindias specifically, the high incidence of bathers with stings sambaquiensis in Balneário Rincão (Fig. 3). This over one particular weekend was associated with species is characterized by four radial canals, northerly winds, but these were preceded by a week of numerous centripetal canals and numerous primary southerly winds (Fig. 5). and secondary tentacles (BOUILLON, 1999).

São Francisco do Sul

Itajaí

Atlantic Bombinhas Ocean

0 50 100 Km Florianópolis

Imbituba Number of cases

Cape Santa Marta Grande Laguna

Fig. 1. Location of beach resorts and accumulated number of cases recorded by the Içara Fire Brigade, of bathers with burns caused by jellyfish from 01/01/2010 to 02/20/2010.

RESGALLA JR. ET AL.: OUTBREAK OF Olindias sambaquiensis 393

Fig. 2. Small, round lesions typical of Olindias sambaquiensis on the abdomen of a child and on the neck of an adult. Photographs taken at Balneário Rincão in January and February 2010.

Fig. 3. Specimens of Olindias sambaquiensis occurring on Balneário Rincão beach in January and February 2010.

Fig. 4. Mean (column) and standard deviation (line) of the water temperature obtained by the MODIS/AQUA (Physical Oceanography DAAC) satellite for the periods 2003 to 2009 and 2010, in January and February, for the south coast of Brazil in the area around Balneário Rincão.

394 BRAZILIAN JOURNAL OF OCEANOGRAPHY, 59(4), 2011

Table 1 - Mean values for air temperature and wind speed and direction for January and February 2009 and 2010, obtained from the Cape of Santa Marta Grande Weather Station (INMET).

2009 2010 Wind Wind Month/year Temperature Temperature Direction Speed Direction Speed °C °C (degree) (m/s) (degree) (m/s) January 22.06 71.33 2.53 24.04 45.04 1.82 February 22.54 23.51 1.86 24.69 41.50 3.10

C)

o 30

20 10 0

Temperatura ( Temperatura -10

-20 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 Vento 1 m/s Dia (Janeiro de 2010)

Fig. 5. Air temperature (ºC), wind speed (m/s) and wind direction at the Cape of Santa Marta Grande weather station (INMET) with daily averages for 15 to 31 January 2010. The data shown relate to the period with the highest incidence of accidents involving jellyfish at Balneário Rincão (29 to 31 January 2010) with 237 reported cases.

Nowadays, studies of mass occurrence or hydrozoan Olindias sambaquiensis was responsible blooms of gelatinous organisms, particularly for a large number of the injuries, which accords with hydromedusae, have drawn attention because they are the clinical profile diagnosed by Haddad Jr. (2000) not only related to the productivity of the seas, but also and Haddad Jr. et al. (2010). The symptoms were also to alterations caused by the activities of man (MILLS, in accordance with those described by these same 2001). Understanding these aggregations and authors, and the use of vinegar as a first aid measure, discerning the physical processes involved in their applied in this case by the Fire Department, is behavior is not an easy task since it is often a recommended for Olindias sambaquiensis combination of these two forcing elements that are (MIANZAN et al., 2001). responsible for these outbreaks (ARAI, 1992). When O. sambaquiensis is endemic to the Southern these blooms are associated with accidents involving Atlantic, with distribution between the Southeast bathers at tourist resorts, this has negative region of Brazil and the North of Argentina repercussions on public health and on the (MIANZAN; ZAMPONI, 1988). It has frequently socioeconomic aspects of the region, prompting been mentioned as the cause of stings in bathers tourists to stay away from the area. throughout its area of distribution (MIANZAN; The etiological agent of the more than 3,300 ZAMPONI, 1988; MIANZAN; RAMÍREZ, 1996; accidents observed in the region was identified for the HADDAD JR. et al., 2002; RESGALLA JR. et al., first time in an outbreak of stings (skin irritations) in 2005). This fact has attracted attention to the species, humans in the State of Santa Catarina. The observation particularly in relation to outbreaks and the negative of the lesions and marks made it clear that the impact on tourism in the coastal communities, with RESGALLA JR. ET AL.: OUTBREAK OF Olindias sambaquiensis 395

increasing interest in the genesis of and the processes Technological Development) for the research grant, involved in the occurrence of the outbreaks. awarded through process 302165/2008-8. The wind systems observed over the south coast of the State of Santa Catarina in 2010 were no REFERENCES different from those of the previous year, but the air and water temperatures indicate different conditions ARAI, M. N. Active and passive factors affecting and these may have propitiated the outbreak in the aggregations of Hydromedusae: a review. In: summer 2010 season. Stings in bathers caused by BOUILLON, J.; BOERO, F.; CICOGNA, F.; GILI, J.M.; hydromedusae in these resorts are not rare, but the HUGHES, G. (Ed.). Aspects of Hydrozoa biology. number of cases recorded in summer 2010 was Scientia Mar ., v. 56, n. 2-3:, p. 99-108, 1992. atypical, according to the Içara fire Department. BOUILLON, J. Hydromedusae. In: BOLTOVSKOY, D. (Ed.). South Atlantic zooplankton . v. 1. 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(Ed.). concentrated in this narrow column of superficial Oceanografia e mudanças globais . São Paulo: Edusp, water. 2008. P. 371-381. The occurrence of jellyfish in the beach ODDONE, M. C.; VELASCO, G. Relationship between liver regions may, likewise, be associated with winds from weight, body size and reproductive activity in the South quadrant, which would probably promote Atlantoraja cyclophora (Elasmobranchii: Rajidae: their close proximity to the coast, as observed by Arhynchobatinae) in oceanic waters off Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Neotrop. Biol. Conserv ., v. 1, n. 1, p. 12- RESGALLA JR. et al. (2005) for the north coast of 16, 2006. Santa Catarina. Coincidentally, the period of higher MIANZAN, H. W.; GUERRERO, R.A. Environmental incidence among bathers at Balneário Rincão was patterns and biomass distribution of gelatinous preceded by southerly winds at the end of January macrozooplankton. Three study cases in the South- 2010 (Fig. 5). western Atlantic ocean. Scientia Mar . v. 64, supl. 1, p. In any case, there is another factor that might 215-224, 2000. determine the occurrence of an outbreak of O. MIANZAN, H. W.; RAMÍREZ, F. Olindias sambaquiensis sambaquiensis stings in the south of Santa Catarina, stings in the South west Atlantic. In: WILLIAMSON, J.A.H.; FENNER, P.J.; BURNETT, J.W.; RIFKIN, J.F. namely the behavior, or at least the presence of a high (Ed.). Venomous and poisonous marine : a concentration of potential victims in the resorts. The medical and biological handbook . Brisbane, Australia: high air and water temperatures recorded are also University New South Wales Press, 1996. p. 206-208, factors that prompt the tourists themselves to visit the 301. coastal region (RESGALLA JR. et al., 2005). MIANZAN, H. W.; ZAMPONI, M. O. Estudio bioecológico de Olindias sambaquiensis Müller, 1861 (, ) en la area de Monte ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Hermoso. Factores meteorológicos que influyen en su aparición. Iheringia , v. 2, p. 63-68, 1988. The authors thank the Fire Department of the MIANZAN, H. W.; FENNER, J. P.; CORNELIUS, P. F. S.; South in the person of Captain Alexandre Vieira, and RAMÍREZ, F.C. Vinegar as a disarming agent to prevent the journalist Nei Manique (Portal Engeplus) for the further discharge of the nematocyst of the stinging information and images kindly granted. As also the hydromedusa Olindias sambaquiensis . Cutis , v. 68, p. CNPq (National Council of Scientific and 45-48, 2001. 396 BRAZILIAN JOURNAL OF OCEANOGRAPHY, 59(4), 2011

MILLS, C. E. 2001. Jellyfish blooms: are populations increasing globally in response to changing ocean conditions? Hydrobiologia , v. 451, p. 55-68. RESGALLA JR. C.; SOUZA, V. G. A.; KLEIN, A. H. F. The occurrence of jellyfish stings on the Santa Catarina coast, southern Brazil. Rev. Bras. Oceanogr ., v. 53, p. 183- 186, 2005.

(Manuscript received 10 January 2011; revised 03 March 2011; accepted 18 May 2011)